Read Online The Ends of the Earth by Robert Goddard - Free Book Online

mime his need for food until something edible – a bowl of rice and beans – was supplied in exchange for a handful of coins. Tea of a kind he would have discarded as dishwater in England accompanied the food. He gulped it all down gratefully, then pressed on.
    Central Station was still relatively quiet. He bought an English language newspaper – the Japan Mail – and hid behind it in a café where he ordered coffee on the basis it was a safer bet than the local tea.
    There was nothing in the paper about the arrest of American would-be assassins the previous night, nor about the hunt for one of them who had eluded the police. Sam derived some relief from that, but another problem was already weighing on his mind. Count Tomura knew Yamanaka had been in cahoots with them in Paris. He might easily deduce Sam would turn to Yamanaka’s brother for help in Tokyo. The Home Ministry might therefore be under watch. He could be arrested as he entered.
    A taxi would safely take him as far as the door, of course. But he began to wonder if he could disguise himself in some way. The hat he had stolen from his fellow patient at the hospital had a conical, oriental look about it. What he needed was the sort of loose, enveloping garment he saw many men walking around in, although he drew the line at the wooden pattens they clunked along on.
    Spying a clothing emporium among the several shops inside the station, he waited for it to open at nine o’clock, then hurried in and pointed out the sort of thing he wanted, generously sized. It was, he gleaned, called a yukata . To the assistant’s obvious horror, he put it on over his suit after paying and went straight out.
    He loitered in the waiting room for another hour, where he pretended to read a Japanese language newspaper someone had left behind, although he soon realized he was spoiling the effect by turning the pages in the wrong direction. He abandoned the pretence and concentrated on smoking until ten o’clock came and went, giving him some confidence that Yamanaka the civil servant would have arrived at work if he was ever going to. Then he set off.
    The taxi ride to the Home Ministry was short and stressful. The driver understood not a word of English, so could not grasp where Sam wished to be taken. Eventually, they settled for Sam sitting in the front with him and pointing the way.
    The driver was clearly surprised when they reached their destination so quickly. Sam handed him more than enough to cover the fare, jumped out and rushed straight into the Home Ministry building.
    He slowed to a seemlier pace in the high, hushed foyer. A reception desk stood ahead of him, with an impassive, frog-like man behind it, dressed in a morning suit. Sam held out little hope he spoke English either.
    ‘I’m here to see Yamanaka Fumiko,’ he ventured, congratulating himself on remembering the correct order of the names in Japanese usage.
    But the congratulation was premature. The man behind the counter frowned at this uncomprehendingly.
    ‘Yamanaka Fumiko. It’s very important.’
    The frown deepened. ‘ Yamanaka-san? ’
    ‘Yes. Yamanaka-san.’
    ‘ Nanji no goyoyaku desuka? ’
    ‘Just tell him I’m here. My name’s Twentyman. I know his brother Yamanaka Eisaku. This is urgent. You understand? Urgent .’
    ‘Excuse me,’ came a voice from behind Sam.
    Turning, he found himself looking down at a small, bright-eyed woman with shorter hair than he had seen on most Japanese women. She was wearing a flower-patterned kimono and a wispy scarf. Her face was kind and soft-featured. Bewilderingly, she was looking at him with apparent recognition – and surprise.
    ‘You are Sam Twentyman?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘So, you are free.’
    ‘I … Who are you?’
    ‘Shimizu Chiyoko. I have been waiting to speak to Yamanaka-san. Shall I explain to this gentleman for you?’
    ‘Well, thanks, yes. I suppose so. But …’
    She rolled off a statement that appeared to satisfy the frog-like man